The NH House Special Committee on Redistricting and NH Senate Redistricting Committee will conduct "public listening sessions" in each NH county during September & October 2021.   As someone who is concerned about how a fair, nonpartisan and transparent redistricting process affects your representation in Concord and in Washington, we need you to attend and speak up for a fair process.  

We demand a fair, nonpartisan & transparent redistricting process

As we understand it, these meetings will be in-person and will NOT have an interactive Zoom option for remote testimony.  They will likely NOT have a YouTube live option as has been the case with Legislative Office Building meetings in Concord, further limiting transparency.

Given the COVID situation, we understand that not all volunteers are comfortable being inside for the meeting, so we have other outdoor and stay-at-home options.  That said, we are trying to mobilize as many in-the-room attendees as possible.   Through incompetence or intention, there has been an effort to limit the public input into the redistricting process which must be overcome to assure fair maps.

Please follow the links to RSVP for one or more meeting.  After RSVPing, you'll be taken to a page where you'll be able to choose HOW you want to participate:  Sit inside (from any county); Sit inside and testify in person (from this county); Help explain the maps at inside/outside table; Stay outside and hold signs; Stay outside with clipboard; Stay at home and help make turnout phone calls; Stay at home and submit written testimony.

• See the YouTube Video- Oct 5 2021 6:00PM - Rockingham County, County Superior Courthouse, 10 RT 125, Brentwood,NH 03833
• See the YouTube Video- Oct 7 2021 6:00PM - Coos County, County Superior Court, 55 School Street, Suite 301, Lancaster, NH 03584
• See the YouTube Video - Oct 12 2021 6:00PM - Cheshire County, County Hall, Room: Delegation Hall, 12 Court St, Keene, NH 04341
• See the YouTube Video - Oct 13 2021 6:00PM - Sullivan County, Claremont Savings Bank Community Center-Room B, 152 South Street, Claremont, NH 03743
• See the YouTube Video - Oct 14 2021 6:00PM - Carroll County, Kennett High School, 409 Eagles Way, North Conway, NH 03860
• RSVP - Oct. 18 2021 6:00PM - Hillsborough County, Goffstown High School, - Theater, 27 Wallace Rd, Goffstown, NH 03045 
• RSVP - Oct 19 20201 6 pm - Belknap County, Belknap Mill in Laconia, 25 Beacon St E # 1, Laconia, NH 03246

Submit Testimony Electronically

Whether you are going in person, or just submitting in writing, please submit your written testimony to BOTH committees:

Go here to submit testimony to the NH House Special Committee on Redistricting via email

Go here to submit testimony to the NH House Special Committee on Redistricting via the online portal (will be posted on the website)

Go here to submit testimony to the NH Senate Redistricting Committee

Open Democracy Action will make 20 copies of your testimony and will deliver it to the Hillsborough & Belknap County hearings.  Please send to our administrator Doreen by Monday, Oct. 18 by noon.

See others' testimony on our Google drive.  Please don't copy and paste, but use it for inspiration!

What Can One Person Do to Get the For the People Act passed? 

We're often asked what can one person do to protect the freedom to vote, get money out of politics, or make sure our voting districts aren't gerrymandered.   A lot, actually!   The founder of our organization, Doris "Granny D" Haddock, walked across the United States when she was 89 years old and is credited with getting the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform bill passed! 

Coming up for votes this summer is the For the People Act, an 800-page democracy reform bill which includes the most significant democracy protections since the 1965 Voting Rights Act.   Among the provisions, as detailed at Common Cause's website:

• Modernize Voter Registration
  • Automatic Voter Registration
  • Same-Day and Online Registration
  • Protect Against Flawed Purges
• Restore the Voting Rights Act
• Restore Voting Rights to People with Prior Convictions
• Strengthen Mail Voting Systems
• Institute Nationwide Early Voting
• Preventing Unreasonable Wait Times at the Polls
• Protect Against Deceptive Practices

So, what can you do to help get the H.R. 1 / S. 1 For the People Act passed?  

Here are some actions we've prepared to make it easy for you to do a simple yet powerful action.  Several of these were developed for our Open Democracy Teams, but you need not be a team member to do them.   Do as many as you have time for, AND share this page with your politically-active family and friends.  Our object right now is to mobilize as many people as possible to contact their U.S. Senator by phone, letter, postcard or email.   PHONE is most important!

Action of the Week - A Simple But Powerful Action You Can Take

Questions / Comments / Corrections, contact Brian Beihl, Deputy Director

-  Updated May 18, 2021 -

This week's Action: 

Wednesday, May 19, at 9:30, NH Election Law hears testimony on a surprise, non-germane amendment to SB 89.   This amendment tries to prevent the use of election rules in the federal H.R. 1 / S. 1 For the People Act for state and county elections. 

Given the refusal of the NH Legislature to pass sensible bills which allow every voter to be heard, we think that the provisions of H.R. 1 / S. 1 For the People Act are huge steps forward, and support the implementation nationally and here in NH. 

Here is your action:

Please sign in to oppose this SB 89 amendment via the House Calendar!  http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx

1. Select “Wed. May 19th”
2. Select “House Election law”
3. Select “SB 89 amendment 2021-1445h ”
4. Select “I oppose this bill”
5. Then complete the address information

If you want to speak against the amendment: Under testimony, select “Testimony is for non-germane amendment.” 

 9:30 a.m. SB 89 Amendment Public Hearing on non-germane amendment #2021-1445h to SB 89..  The amendment adds a part VI to the bill which would not allow NH to follow the For the People Act rules, if it passes,  for county or state elections.  A similar amendment was defeated in Texas last week, suggesting that this may be a coordinated national effort to neutralize H.R. 1 / S. 1.   Should it pass, Open Democracy Action would oppose SB 89.   The NH Senate would have to “concur” on SB 89 after such an amendment.  Open Democracy Action opposes this amendment

Thank you for taking this simple action!

Brian Beihl, Deputy Director, Open Democracy Action

If you did this action and want to do more, consider joining an Open Democracy Team.   Our six regional teams are briefed each week for an hour and given 1-3 actions each week, but with more learning and strategy involved.   Actions include writing letters to legislators, letters to the editor, working with your local election officials on issues, calling your state reps and senators, and fun actions like this signs, walks, parades and festivals.   You can choose your level of commitment, but you'll be a smarter, more engaged, more powerful citizen as a result!  Check it out

New Hampshire friends: 

Tens of thousands of NH voters may be concerned enough about COVID-19 to NOT go to the polls this fall.  We're counting on your action to help the vote safely, protecting them, their families and our poll workers.

• The grid below has graphics and messages for you to use:
• A Facebook graphic and post text
• A Facebook profile picture to use, which folks will see every time you post
• An Instagram graphic and post text
• An email to send to your friends and family, or to groups to which you belong
• A Twitter post and graphic
• A poster for you to print out, or to order preprinted from us.

Thank you for this act of kindness to your fellow NH citizens, because no one should have to choose between their health and their right to vote!

The New Hampshire Democracy Report is a weekly letter sharing updates on democracy reform bills as they pass through the New Hampshire State House.

Here are our recent newsletters:  

2021

June 4, 2021 NH Democracy Report

May 24, 2021 NH Demcracy Report

May 17, 2021 NH Democracy Report

May 10, 2021 NH Democracy Report

May 3, 2021 NH Democracy Report

April 26, 2021 NH Democracy Report

April 18, 2021 NH Democracy Report

No report April 12

April 5, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 28, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 21, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 14, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 7, 2021 NH Democracy Report

March 1, 2021 NH Democracy Report

February 22, 2021 NH Democracy Report

February 14, 2021 NH Democracy Report

February 7, 2021 NH Democracy Report

January 31, 2021 NH Democracy Report

January 24, 2021 NH Democracy Report

January 18, 2021 NH Democracy Report

2020

March 2, 2020 New Hampshire Democracy Report

Feb. 10, 2020 New Hampshire Democracy Report

Feb. 2, 2020  New Hampshire Democracy Report

We're combining two of our favorite actvities:   Singing and Social Action!

Announcing the 2020 Campaign Finance Corruption Chorus, sponsored by Open Democracy Action.   Our mission will be to sing "Corruption Carols" at campaign events in the last few weeks of the  2020 New Hampshire Primary, as well as carolling around Manchester where the national and international press hangs out.  

This will be a relaxed and FUN group with a humorous yet powerful message.    We're still working out the attire, but thinking we'll have matching warm hats and maybe scarves which will be provided to our singers. 

RSVP your interest by filling out the form below.   We're hoping to have our first rehearsal shortly.  

Thank you and hope to hear you soon!

Brian Beihl

Deputy Director, Open Democracy Action

603-620-8300

Thanks for considering being part of an Open Democracy Action Regional Democracy Team here in New Hampshire.   If you are outside of New Hampshire, there are other ways for you to help, but our regional teams are working in their towns and neighborhoods here in the Granite State only.

Open Democracy Action just launched its Regional Democracy Teams in November of 2019, and we're still sorting out the infrastructure and mission.   Your voice is important at this critical time as each team decides what activities are best within each region.       

Go to the Regional Democracy Teams sign-up page

Our organization, founded by New Hampshire campaign finance reformer Doris "Granny D" Haddock, who at 89 years old in 1999, set off on a walk across the United States to raise the alarm of how our campaign finance system was creating a system of legal bribery, particularly at the federal level.   She was a critical part of kindling nationwide support for the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, which passed in 2002.   Granny D died in 2010, but unfortunately lived to see the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which rendered her work for McCain-Feingold moot.  But Granny D remains a hero, not just here in New Hampshire, but for reformers all over the country, for showing what one ordinary person can do to make change.

Our Regional Democracy Teams will work around their areas on a variety of activities, but all of it related to strengthening our Democracy:

• Exhibiting at local fairs and festivals
• Walking or doing street theater in parades (We've done "SuperPAC Man" and "Senator Philmore Pockets" in past parades)
• Speaking to school, civic and religious groups about our issues
• Calling state reps when Democracy legislation is pending
• Writing letters to the editor in your area
• Talking with other activist groups, such as climate, pipeline, healthcare, or other groups which get blocked by Big Money interests.
• Hosting an annual Granny D Day walk on January 24th, or reading one of her speeches on the steps of your town hall.
• Do a screening of one of several money-in-politics movies at your local library
• and whatever else you can dream up to further our cause!

If you're ready to take action, go to our Regional Democracy Teams sign up page, confirm what region you're in, and sign up.   You'll be doing your part to help save our republic by getting our democracy back in the hands of the PEOPLE, not special interests or corporations.

As Granny D said, "Democracy isn't something we HAVE, it's something we DO!"

Time to Take Action!

House Concurs with Senate on Amendment for HB 706 Nonpartisan Redistricting Bill; Goes to Governor

Establishment of a nonpartisan redistricting commission moved a step closer with a bipartisan 208-137 division vote on HB 706 in the House on Thursday, it's last stop in the legislature.

That's with a total of 345 votes cast, and a 60% to 40% margin, short of the 66% that would be needed to override a veto from the governor. It is still unclear whether the governor will sign or veto the bill.  Many representatives were absent from the vote.

In May, a bipartisan compromise was reached to assure passage in the Senate and make the bill more palatable to Republicans. Thursday's  division vote does not record who cast the ballot for the concurrence vote, but it had originally passed the house in a 218-123 bipartisan vote, 64% to 36%.

Write or Call the Governor

Open Democracy Action has been urging voters to write to Governor Sununu to encourage him to sign the bill. Continued letters and calls to the governor, and letters to the editor to local papers are needed to convince him that the New Hampshire voters want fair voting districts, and it's in the best interest for both parties and for the State. Please do it soon!

Mail: (We recommend a personal letter)

Office of the Governor, State House, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301

Phone:

(603) 271-2121; (603) 271-7680 (fax)

Email:

Email the Governor's opinion email

LEGISLATION WE'RE WATCHING THIS TERM

For updates and descriptions of the other important democracy legislation this session, click on the links below.

Public funding

Redistricting and ending gerrymandering

Campaign reform

Money in politics

Questions? Want to Help?

Olivia Zink: [email protected]; (603) 661-8621 (cell)

Rick Bourdon: [email protected]; (603) 795-2818; (603) 759-1888 (cell)

Brian Beihl: [email protected] (603) 620-8300 (cell)

NH Becomes the 20^th State to Call for a 28^th Amendment Addressing Citizens United & Redistricting

The New Hampshire Senate passed HB 504 in a roll call vote along party lines Thursday. HB 504 compels our Congressional delegation to call for a 28^th amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving Congress the power to regulate money in politics, and exempting such regulation from violating free speech.

Governor Sununu has not signed the bill, but technically, he doesn't need to. According to the Council of State Legislators, resolutions like HB 504 serve to inform our federal representatives of the wishes of the state legislature, and the governor's signature is not needed. However, Congress must craft it's own language, have it passed by 2/3 majority of each house, then have that language ratified by 75% of the states with no changes to the language. The U.S. Constitution does not contain a provision requiring Congress to submit a proposed amendment upon request by some requisite number of states. It's a high bar, but it's been done 27 times before.

Congratulations to all the legislators, supporting organizations and to the many voters who wrote letters and made phone calls. Granny D is smiling.

HB 706 Passes House Committee – Again - Tuesday, Full House Amendment Affirmation Vote Thursday

The House Election Law committee voted Tuesday to concur with the Senate's bipartisan amendment compromise to HB 706, making the bill more acceptable to Republicans in the House & Senate, and hopefully, Governor Sununu. HB 706 creates a nonpartisan redistricting commission, but the Senate's wholesale changes to the bill needed review by the House Election Law after it passed by voice vote on May 23. A positive vote of the House sends the bill to Governor Sununu, where it is still unclear whether the governor will embrace the bipartisan bill. Supported by ODA.

It's Up to Governor Sununu to Shine a Light on Dark Money LLCs 

In the 2016 gubernatorial election, both Governor Chris Sununu and his opponent, Colin Van Ostern, received donations from LLCs. At that time, and as it remains, individuals could contribute unlimited funds to an LLC, and the LLC would make campaign donations it the LLCs name. Amounts were disclosed, but not the individuals making the donations. SB 156 would change this, requiring that both the individual donors and the amounts they contributed, would be disclosed to the Secretary of State. The bill passed in a full house division vote 212-139 last Wednesday and now awaits Governor Sununu's signature or veto. Supported by ODA

The University of Seattle Law Review published an excellent article by Brendan A. O’Neill about the New Hampshire governor's race and the LLC Loophole. It will add to your understanding of how this type of sleazy Dark Money works and how to fix it.
 

House Adopts Ban of Ratepayer Money for Lobbying

As expected, HB 206 passed the full Senate last week in a voice vote. The bill would prevent public utilities from passing on to customers some of their costs for lobbying and other political activity. Despite the almost universal support for the bill through the legislature, the Sununu family's close ties to the energy industry raise a question as to whether he'll sign the bill. Supported by ODA

House Passes SB 105 Inaugural Committee Bill

SB 105 passed in a bipartisan voice vote last Wednesday, setting new guidelines for reporting for inaugural committees. The bill tightens regulations for donors to inaugural committees, limiting maximum donations to $10,000, and requires receipts for money dispersed to family members – a response to questionable payments made to family members and campaign insiders in the last election. The Governor's office has since released a conflict of interest policy for the inaugural committee.

UPCOMING HEARINGS & COMMITTEE VOTES

Red = Open Democracy Action Priority Bill

After Tuesday's Election Law vote on HB 706, there are no remaining hearings on Democracy bills in the New Hampshire House or Senate.

THIS WEEK'S SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE

The Senate will meet in session Thursday, June 13 at 10 a.m. in Senate chambers. The House will meet June 13 at 10 a.m. The last remaining significant democracy bill is HB 706, which faces a vote to concur with the Senate's amendment.

“Dear Governor Sununu . . .”

HB 706 should be heading to the Governor in the next few weeks. Send a postal letter now and ask him to sign HB 706! Remind him that in the big picture, both parties benefit from a level playing field, and more importantly, New Hampshire voters benefit from having sensible representation, not gerrymandering.

Governor Christopher T. Sununu, Office of the Governor, State House, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301.

Have you Heard?

Over the last six months, Open Democracy has been producing the Open Democracy Minute, a radio segment which runs on WNHN 94.7 in Concord. Each week, we update listeners about current democracy legislation, and try to explain complex issues like gerrymandering and ranked choice voting in 90 seconds. Each week's Open Democracy Minute can be found on the Open Democracy Minute page. Take a listen to this week's segment!

Upcoming Events

Film: "Dark Money," Nashua

This award-winning political thriller examines one of the greatest threats to American democracy; the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections and elected officials.

The film follows an intrepid local journalist working to expose the real-life impacts of the US Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Through this gripping story, DARK MONEY uncovers the shocking and vital truth of how American elections are bought and sold. There will be a panel discussion following the film

The movie is free to attend, and is sponsored by Open Democracy and the League of Women Voters, Nashua. It will be held at the Nashua Public Library, 2 Court Street, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. RSVP here, and contact Joan Emus with any questions.·

Films: "Legalize Democracy" & "The Story of Citizens United"

We the People - Mount Washington Valley cordially invite you to cookies and conversation about corporate personhood and what you can do about it. We will show two videos, The Story of Citizens United from the Story of Stuff Project, and Legalize Democracy from Move to Amend. The first show will be Tuesday, June 18, at 6:00 pm at the Conway Public Library, 15 Greenwood, Ave, Conway, followed by a Saturday matinee June 22 at 3:00 pm.

Have you heard?

Over the last six months, Open Democracy has been been producing the Open Democracy Minute, a radio segment which runs on WNHN 94.7 in Concord. Each week, we update listeners about current democracy legislation, and try to explain complex issues like gerrymandering and ranked choice voting in 90 seconds. Each week's Open Democracy Minute can be found on the Open Democracy Minute page. Take a listen to this week's segment!

LEGISLATION WE'RE WATCHING THIS TERM

For updates and descriptions of the other important democracy legislation this session, click on the links below.

Public funding

Redistricting and ending gerrymandering

Campaign reform

Money in politics

Questions? Want to Help?

Olivia Zink: [email protected]; (603) 661-8621 (cell)

Rick Bourdon: [email protected]; (603) 795-2818; (603) 759-1888 (cell)

Brian Beihl: [email protected] (603) 620-8300 (cell)